{"id":3685872,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ecmc-group-senior-operations-partner","title":"Senior Operations Partner","company":{"id":1857870,"name":"ECMC Group","domain":"ecmcgroup.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/ecmcgroup","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Minneapolis, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":90000,"max":120000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":120000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-03T14:56:40Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-03","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T15:56:48Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":3,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":3},"description":"ECMC Foundation is a nationally focused foundation whose mission is to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments to remove barriers to postsecondary completion; build the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems; and transform the postsecondary ecosystem using a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to support both nonprofit and for-profit ventures.\nJob Summary\nThe Foundation Senior Operations Partner is a senior-level operational professional accountable for shaping and advancing the infrastructure, governance, and business practices that enable the Foundation to achieve its mission and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Director of Operations, this role manages a broad portfolio spanning financial operations, contracting, risk and compliance, systems, vendor management, and organizational planning. This role serves as a trusted advisor to Foundation leadership, translates strategy into scalable operating models, leads complex cross-functional initiatives, and uses data and operational insight to improve decision quality, efficiency, transparency, and organizational resilience. The position exercises significant independent judgment and partners across Foundation teams, ECMC Group Shared Services, and external organizations to deliver sustainable solutions and measurable operational impact.\nEssential Duties and Responsibilities\nOperational strategy and portfolio ownership: Manages the design, execution, and continuous evolution of the Foundation’s operating model, systems, controls, and workflows; establishes multiyear roadmaps and priorities aligned with organizational strategy, growth, and capacity.\nStrategic partnership and decision support: Advises the Director of Operations and Foundation leadership on operational implications, tradeoffs, risks, resource needs, and opportunities; translates strategic direction into actionable plans, governance, milestones, and measures of success.\nCross-functional leadership: Manages complex, high-impact initiatives across Foundation teams, ECMC Group Shared Services, and external partners, clarifying decision rights, aligning stakeholders, resolving dependencies, and driving work through implementation and adoption.\nFinancial stewardship: Leads Foundation budget administration, forecasting, expense monitoring, reconciliations, and management reporting; identifies trends and variances, improves controls, and provides analysis that informs resource allocation and leadership decisions.\nContracting, procurement, and vendor governance: Manages the operational lifecycle for Foundation contracts and vendor relationships, including intake, coordination, performance monitoring, renewals, issue escalation, and partnership with legal, procurement, finance, and business owners.\nRisk, compliance, and internal controls: Establishes and maintains operational controls, policies, and governance practices that support compliance, sound stewardship, audit readiness, business continuity, and timely mitigation of operational risk.\nSystems and data leadership: Defines business requirements and leads improvements to financial and related systems; promotes data integrity, effective adoption, reporting discipline, and scalable technology-enabled processes.\nPerformance and continuous improvement: Establishes service levels, key performance indicators, and feedback mechanisms; analyzes operational data and stakeholder needs to prioritize and implement improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and user experience.\nPolicy and knowledge management: Sets standards for and oversees the development, maintenance, and communication of operational procedures, grantmaking policies, and documentation to support organizational record that includes consistency, compliance, continuity, and organizational learning.\nOrganizational enablement: Provides senior-level consultation, training, and change leadership to help employees and partners adopt systems, policies, and processes; builds operational capability and accountability across the Foundation.\nAdministrative portfolio leadership: Oversees honoraria and travel stipends, ensuring effective service delivery, appropriate controls, recordkeeping, and alignment with organizational priorities.\nPerforms other duties and responsibilities as assigned.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in finance, business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience, with 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in operations, grantmaking, finance, or a related function.\nDemonstrated success operating at a senior or lead level, with accountability for a complex portfolio of operational processes, systems, programs, or enterprise initiatives.\nProven ability to translate organizational strategy into operating plans, governance structures, decision frameworks, milestones, performance measures, and sustainable practices.\nExperience leading complex cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior leaders, business partners, and external stakeholders without relying on direct authority.\nStrong judgment and demonstrated ability to identify, assess, communicate, and mitigate operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.\nStrong experience with budget planning, forecasting, financial reporting, expense management, reconciliations, controls, and decision-support analysis.\nExperience managing contract and procurement lifecycles, vendor relationships, service expectations, and operational agreements in partnership with legal, finance, and business stakeholders.\nAdvanced ability to synthesize financial, operational, and business data into clear recommendations for varied audiences.\nExperience defining performance indicators, service standards, dashboards, or other mechanisms to measure operational effectiveness and drive accountability.\nExperience utilizing and improving CRM, grants management, financial, or other enterprise systems, including platforms such as Fluxx, Salesforce, or comparable applications.\nAdvanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.\nAbility to travel domestically up to 25% and work effectively within the Foundation's hybrid work environment.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience working within a foundation, nonprofit, philanthropic, or grantmaking organization, with knowledge of sector practices, governance, and stewardship expectations.\nExperience managing enterprise system implementations, process redesign, change management, or operational transformation initiatives.\nExperience managing the development, maintenance, and communication of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and grantmaking policies.\nExperience supporting strategic planning, annual operating planning, organizational performance management, or executive-level decision support.\nExperience supporting operations across multiple locations, states, or time zones.\nThe pay range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, peer and market benchmarks, and geographic location.\nThis position is classified ashybrid Monday - Wednesday and requires attendance in Minneapolis, MN.\nTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\nECMC Foundation also provides a comprehensive benefits package:\nHealth & wellness benefits: Medical,dental, and vision insurance plan options, with a generous employer subsidy. Company paid life & disability insurance, pre-tax flexible spending accounts and robust wellness programs.\nFinancial benefits: Generous401(k) plan with a company match up to 6% and additional discretionary contribution potential, paid time off starting at 20 days/year and commuter subsidy.\nEducation benefits: Tuitionreimbursement up to $10,500/year for approved programs and student loan payment reimbursement up to $4,800/year. 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